Hey Guys!
I hope you are all well and have fully recovered from a tough States race last Saturday! Everyone ran so well, despite the fact that Twin Brook is a very difficult course to run- mentally and physically. For runners going to New Englands, it is nice to have a bit of time to recover!
Before I start my blog, I want to echo Hannah's thoughts about Payton Sullivan. Our team was heartbroken to hear about her untimely passing. On behalf of Greely Cross Country, we send all our thoughts and prayers to her family, friends and to the Waynflete community.
Because our training last week was pretty low key, I have had time to reflect on the season as a whole and my entire running career more generally. My first experience running cross country was in first grade, through a local running program in which the majority of the kids in our district participated. This program was meant to introduce kids to running, but was never very serious. As a kid, I always came in the middle of the pack. I liked running, but it was definitely not a passion. As I grew older, I continued to participate in the running program, and my results improved a bit, but that was partly because the older we got, the less participants there were. As a kid, I thought running was a sport where success was determined by natural ability. Because I wasn't "naturally fast," I thought I would never have much success.
After fifth grade, the running program ended, and I was prepared to say goodbye to the sport, partly because I didn't see myself as a "runner," and also because I enjoyed team sports more. I didn't run much at all for two years until the spring of seventh grade, when one of my friends asked me to run the leg of their sprint triathlon. I agreed, seeing it as a fun social opportunity, and thought I would just show up on race day. However, as the date approached, my mom encouraged me to train a bit for the 5k. The first few runs were torturous and again, I felt that I wasn't a "natural" runner. I remember one specific time, where my mom took me on the triathlon race course, and I lagged far behind her the entire way. When we finished, I was so frustrated with myself because running had become such a struggle. However, once I got over that anger, I channeled my energy into figuring out how I could become a better runner. My mom gave me small tips to improve my form, but most of my progress came from hard work. I started running two-three miles most days and slowly but surely I improved.
I tell this story because sometimes there is a perception that an individual must be a natural runner to be successful, and if he or she doesn't have the innate ability, he or she will never succeed. Natural talent certainly helps a running career, but hard work and dedication can quickly surpass the advantages someone may have because they are considered "gifted." As the cross-country season comes to a close, and we all transition to different sports and activities, I want to leave you guys with the thought that running is not an easy sport to become good at. It is not luck or natural talent that wins races. Instead, it is hard work, consistent dedication and truly loving the sport of running.
I hope you all are enjoy your last week of training or are enjoying your time off! I have a feeling Maine is going to represent our State well at New Englands- Let's put Maine on the map!
- Katherine
